Join Martin every Saturday morning from 10am until 1pm, and enjoy his love of music, little stories of his past, and special guest apperances.
968-437690shiremusicshiremusic@yahoo.co.uk
Martin began his musical career in the early 1960’s. His first band “The Waywards” appeared on several TV shows until Martin left to start and manage his own band. Working around the East London area, Martin’s next project steered him into winning (for 2 years running) a nationwide talent competition at the Lyceum ballroom in London. After winning these competitions, the band “Timepiece ” were invited to appear on the popular TV talent show ”New Faces”, performing for the first time a song Martin had written, “Tell Me The Reason Why”, to critical acclaim. His manager of the time “Ric Lee” of the world famous rock band “Ten Years After”, offered him a publishing deal, and Martin’s song writing career began in earnest.
Working once again in London with another band “Joker”, Martin was introduced to Adrian Baker, then riding high in the UK charts with the bands “Liquid Gold & Gidea Park”. They immediately became friends and started to write and record at Adrian’s East End studio. After the release of their own song, the radio hit “Summertime City” (also recorded by Mike Love of the Beach Boys); they decided to re-form Gidea Park for a UK tour. After releasing several records Adrian left to tour the world with the “Beach Boys”, leaving Martin to take over the lead vocal role for the band. After 4 years travelling around Europe, Martin decided to settle down and release his first cd “Martin Ross Lawford” which has continued to sell steadily for over 10 years!
During a vacation to the USA, Martin was introduced to Pam Hanna, owner of the American Country label “Wingate Records”, who released 2 singles from Martin as the country artist “Marty Ross” which reached the independent country charts.
After having a song covered by “Judge Dread”, a UK reggae recording star, Martin released a cd with Mick Groome as the pop harmony duo “The Beechnuts”.
After working live again around the UK with Mick, Martin decided to move to Spain in 2002, and set up his recording studio to carry on writing. It wasn’t long before Martin was in demand in Spain to perform live, and was soon joined by his friend Stu Blandamer, for festival and TV performances performing as “THE BEAGLES”. After 5 years of working together Martin and Stewart finally finished the cd “Blandamer/Lawford Songbook”,released in the spring of 2009.
You can see Martin performing on www.youtube.com as Martin Lawford the Beagles or Gidea Park. You can also see more info on WWW.SHIREMUSIC.EU.
Xmas 2012 saw a song Martin and Adrian wrote “It’s Xmas” released in the USA on the Adrian Baker Xmas cd.
Martin joined THE CLASSIC ROCK BAND in 2013, performing Classic rock songs from the last 40 years, this stint ended in late 2014 when Martin joined forces with the acclaimed Nick Barker, to put together a classic rock show. Working in the studio with session bassist Dave Copeland he has put together a cd to raise funds for the “Smile” Charity. He has also recorded a cd to raise funds for Kisumu Orphans in Kenya.
Martin retired due to ill health in March 2017, but continues to write and record with his friends Dave Copeland and Nick Bowers as “GAZEEBO” in Cartagena Spain and their new cd release “GAZEEBO REGGAE”has now been released.
In November 2018 Martin joined the “COSTA CALIDA INTERNATIONAL RADIO” as a presenter on Saturdays, 10am to 1pm.
2019 saw Martin resume gigging in the Murcia area on an occasional basis.